SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To stimulate job growth in Illinois and the United States, state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, has introduced two legislative proposals that would prioritize local jobs and keep taxpayer dollars in the state.

“This bill would use state taxpayer dollars to purchase American-made goods and products to increase our competitive edge, while also providing new employment opportunities for workers here in Illinois,” Hoffman said. “To incentivize local economic growth and create jobs, we should focus on proactively investing in domestically manufactured products.”

Hoffman’s legislative package includes House Bill 356, which requires state agencies to purchase American-made products in the process of buying products or goods. Additionally, House Bill 357 gives preference to products manufactured in Illinois in the state’s purchasing process whenever possible. If there is not a viable option to purchase Illinois-specific products, state agencies would be required to purchase American-made products.

“We must continue to pursue proposals that support local jobs by prioritizing Illinois- and American-made goods,” Hoffman said. “Measures like these and others will help us grow the economy and keep more of our tax dollars here at home.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, introduced legislation on Wednesday to crack down on outsourcing corporations that take taxpayer deals and then move jobs overseas and out of state. 

“Companies that take local families’ tax dollars should not be able to simply pocket this money and leave,” said Halpin. “My legislation is aimed at protecting taxpayers’ investment in our community and making sure that local workers are prioritized.”

Halpin’s House Bill 838 creates the Keep Illinois Business Act, which requires companies that move jobs out of state to pay back the full amount of any state subsidies they received. The measure is intended to foster job growth and economic development by ensuring the state is investing taxpayer dollars only in businesses that invest in Illinois. 

Halpin previously passed a version of the Keep Illinois Business Act through the House in March 2017. Then-Gov. Bruce Rauner opposed the measure and it stalled in the Senate.

“Our community and workforce benefit when businesses are incentivized to create jobs here in Illinois,” said Halpin. “Equally important to economic development is making sure the businesses that get these special deals are actually using them to create local jobs. One of my first legislative commitments was to crack down on outsourcers that seek to enrich their profits at the expense of working families, and this legislation is a renewed effort to do so.”